County supes right on Proposition 37

I was pleased to read that the Humboldt County Supervisors demonstrated such pragmatism and common sense in endorsing Proposition 37 -- the labeling of genetically engineered foods (GMOs).

Currently as many as 3,000 ingredients require labeling, including calories, fat and sugar. We should also know if the food we're eating has been manipulated at a DNA level -- causing an increased use of pesticides and a growing list of superweeds and superbugs.

Instead, Americans are being used as guinea pigs by the pesticide and agribusiness industries because the Federal Drug Administration doesn't require any safety studies of GMO foods. Yet both the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization have said mandatory safety studies should be required.

California should join the 49 other countries that require GMO labeling, including all of Europe, Brazil, and even Russia and China.

Without labeling how can we know if there are health problems or allergies associated with consumption of GMO foods? No wonder Monsanto -- the same company that said Agent Orange was safe -- has given $4.2 million to defeating this measure. And now they're assuring us that GMOs are safe too.

Let the debate continue over whether GMO crops are safe, sustainable and efficient -- even as growing evidence suggests they aren't. In the meantime, consumers deserve the right to make informed decisions based on their own personal values. Vote Yes on Proposition 37.